Tag / techno

There is a new book by Michaelangelo Matos called The Underground is Massive which goes into great detail on the emergence of the techno scene solely in the United States. I am quoted and mentioned a few times and so far (I just read a few chapters) I think he’s got it right.

“Joining the ranks of Please Kill Me and Can’t Stop Won’t Stop comes this definitive chronicle of one of the hottest trends in popular culture—electronic dance music—from the noted authority covering the scene. It is the sound of the millennial generation, the music “defining youth culture of the 2010s” (Rolling Stone). Rooted in American techno/house and ’90s rave culture, electronic dance music has evolved into the biggest moneymaker on the concert circuit. Music journalist Michaelangelo Matos has been covering this beat since its genesis, and in The Underground Is Massive, charts for the first time the birth and rise of this last great outlaw musical subculture.”

There is a new Aphex Twin album coming soon called Syro. I loved Come to Daddy and his Mescalinum United remix. Overall however I think a lot of his work fits into the “interesting because it was first” category. That said such a long time has past since his last album (2001) that it’s going to be really interesting to hear something new. I hope it blows us all away.

“It was Aphex Twin’s first tweet in over two years, but Richard D. James turned 140 characters into the news fans have been pining for since 2001’s Drukqs: A new Aphex Twin LP is on the way. Days after a strange Aphex-affiliated blimp hovered above London and James’ trademark logo was seen stenciled outside New York’s Radio City Music Hall, the long-dormant IDM wizard revealed that his new album will be dubbed SYRO. The always-technologically advanced James posted the album’s press release on the Deep Web, meaning only those with TOR proxy access can see the LP’s alleged cryptic track list. As Stereogum notes, Monday also marks James’ 43rd birthday.” – Rolling Stone

Sometimes you need a very basic great techno track. Ronan Portela’s Among Noise remixed by Jonas Kopp hits the spot. If you don’t go out often trust me if this is playing in a club people will be dancing.

“Jonas Kopp was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1981. He has been a producer since he was 19 years old.” – Discogs

To be honest I really like the music he’s playing. It’s not techno but I like it better than a lot of other stuff I hear. His speech is pretty awesome too. Anyone know what TV show or movie this is from?

I was recently contacted by Michaelangelo Matos for Red Bull Music Academy. He wanted to interview me about the start of the NY techno scene in the early 90s. Sometimes in life you are at the right place at the right time and you get to take part in something new. Be sure to click the link below to read the full article.

“That was the mindset Chesler played to under his alias the Horrorist. “Somewhere around ’96, I started to really get an itch to return to new wave and industrial,” he says. “There are really good techno producers with a lot of skill. The only way for me to stand out was to use my own voice and tell my own story. I did my first drugs around that time, so I [wrote] stories about drugs.” Tales such as “Mission Ecstasy” – with its unforgettably blunt tag line, “Because I like fucking drugs” – and “One Night In NYC,” about an NYU student’s trip to the Limelight to pick up a guy who “fucks her all night” in her dorm room, were unsettling. Chesler shopped them to a number of labels. “Nobody wanted them,” he says with a laugh, “so I started my own label.” He called it, hopefully, Things To Come.” – redbullmusicacademy.com

Here’s a track that you would hear very early in the morning or as the title very much appropriately states Late Night. The club is almost empty and your watching a few very good looking people dance to this. Listen to the open hihat come in at 3:16… it’s not time to go home yet. Get up and dance too. Andrei Morant is from the US.

I’m back from Rotterdam and as you can see from the photos I had a great time. I met Juan Atkins, re-connected with Mathis (Panacea) and screamed into the open air. Mathis was a bit late setting up his gear so I ended up performing one of my longest sets ever. As more an more time when on and Panacea wasn’t quite ready the only material I had left to play live was really songy slow stuff. To my amazement the crowd really loved it. It goes to show you sometimes you have no idea what’s going to work. The stage was built in sections and the section leading to the audience was about seven feet up. As I do in smaller club I really love going out and getting to the crowd. I had to jump up and down off the stage many times. My legs are totally black and blue. This happens so often I’m considering some sort of shin guard sports equipment the next time I perform. Be sure to look at the full set of photos (link) to see some of the art and mobile performance pieces that were on display. It’s fairly certain that Containerfest will now be a regular annual event. I am please to be noted in history as performing the first one. Toward the end of my set the sun went down and I have to say I felt pretty lucky to be standing up there.

“ContainerFest 0.1. On the 21st of July 2012 from 12:00h till 23:00h the first edition of ContainerFest…Schiehaven of Rotterdam. ContainerFest0.1 is a new, multidisciplinary festival with different styles of progressive electronic music styles, industrial designs, cool performance art, visuals and art and light installations. This year you will be spoiled with two big area’s filled with big (inter)national headliners.” – Containerfest.nl

You must confess we are the best. We know war! War for sure. Take this step. Take this step. Take this step. Take this step. You must undress. Dress like the rest. Wear the uniform. It is the message! Take this step. Take this step. Take this step. Take this step! You must scream. Big as it is! Your one of the troop. Man in a group! Take this step. Take this step. Take this step. Take this step! You must oppress. Hit like you hit! Hit like a truck. Hit so you’re seen. Take this step. Take this step. Take this step. Take this step! Hit like bull. Hit like steel. Hit like a shank. Hit like a sword. Hit like a gun. Hit like a storm. Hit like fire. Hit like doom. Hit like death! Hit like death! Hit like death! Hit like death! Take this step. Take this step. Take this step. Take this step! Take this step. Take this step. Take this step. Take this step.

1. Take This Step – The Horrorist
2. Take This Step (Mark Hawkins remix) – The Horrorist
3. Take This Step (Pet Duo remix) – The Horrorist
4. Take This Step (Brian Burger remix) – The Horrorist
5. Take This Step (Lenny Dee remix) – The Horrorist

Written & produced by Oliver Chesler. Published by Strengholt Music Group and Things to Come Records. thehorrorist.com thingstocome.com

“Absolute hammer!! The 1st single from The Horrorist’s next album “Fire Funmania” that comes out later in 2012. A wild slick techno blood war song. Super crazy! Easy hit! Now add diverse remixes by Pet Duo, Lenny Dee, Mark Hawkins and Brian Burger. 10/10!!” – Red Team (USA)

I did a remix for the excellent Miss Duckin for a track called Dirty Machine. It’s just out on Elektrax Recordings (ELEK150). It’s a very strong pure techno release. Perfect for 2012. Keep moving forward!